The sound of wet footsteps mixed with mud slowly echoed through the air, drawing closer and closer. In a place this quiet, those sounds made everything feel unsettlingly horrific.
Lin Yue felt a chill crawl up her spine. Unlike when she had been chased brutally before, this time she didn't even know what was approaching.
She forced herself to stay calm, but the thin layer of sweat on her forehead betrayed her. The air around them grew cold, and not just from Yu Han's hand.
Sure enough, the figure that had been shrouded in shadows finally revealed itself.
But… why did it look human?
Lin Yue's unease deepened. She had prepared herself for a ferocious spiritual beast or something similar. A mysterious human, however, was far more troublesome.
The figure walked toward the cold stream, its colorless hand touching the surface of the water. Its expression shifted as its empty eyes changed slightly. It seemed to realize that someone had been here before.
Sweat slid down Lin Yue's cheek.
That thing knew they were here.
Yet it chose not to acknowledge them.
Yu Han lowered his head slightly and whispered softly into Lin Yue's ear, careful not to let the other party hear.
"Look carefully. This is your chance, if you want to go to the sect."
Lin Yue's eyes lit up as she sharpened her gaze. Indeed, this figure was far from ordinary. What stood out even more was the Xu Shen Dian Sect token hanging from its waist.
Perfect.
Now she could reach the sect without the trouble of finding the way herself. She could use this figure.
As if responding to Lin Yue's thoughts, the figure seemed to contemplate something, glancing toward the horizon as if calculating the time. It was already late. Likely the hour when sect disciples were required to return.
Not wishing to waste time, the figure began walking away from the spring. The squelching sound of mud underfoot grated on Lin Yue's nerves. She needed to make sure that irritating sound disappeared before following.
Once the figure had moved far enough away, Lin Yue pulled herself free from Yu Han's side. Their roles reversed. Now she was the one dragging Yu Han along.
…
The journey toward the sect wasn't very far, yet not exactly close either. Lin Yue remained cautious, though the smooth path made everything feel strangely monotonous.
She glanced at Yu Han's calm face. He seemed completely unaffected by everything that had happened. It made Lin Yue wonder what kind of experiences someone with such a seemingly weak body had gone through, for recent events to look like everyday occurrences to him.
"Are you familiar with situations like this?" Lin Yue asked, voicing her curiosity.
Yu Han remained silent, his expression neutral as always, before giving a small nod.
"If you mean that figure, then yes. The aura it carries is very familiar," Yu Han replied.
"That's not what I mea—wait, really? What kind of familiar?" Lin Yue's interest spiked instantly, completely forgetting her earlier question.
"It's the same kind of aura as those who chased you in that domain, you won't notice it" Yu Han said calmly. His voice was pleasant to hear, even though his words carried deeper implications.
"Huh?! So you're saying I'm not capable of sensing it?" Lin Yue blurted out. It was the truth, and she couldn't even get angry at his blunt honesty.
"Correction," Yu Han replied without hesitation. "'Not yet,' not 'not capable.'"
The corner of Lin Yue's lips twitched. Dealing with this man was truly exhausting.
"Whatever it is, I'll become someone who is capable, just like you said."
Lin Yue's confidence was intriguing, especially because she truly had the potential to back it up. Most people boasted loudly, only to collapse helplessly halfway through.
Yu Han knew this. He said nothing.
Who knew how long he would continue letting Lin Yue "adopt" him, next.. what else this girl would do?
....
Before long, footprints began appearing on the ground, signs that many people frequently passed through this area. That meant they were very close to the sect.
Just a few hundred more meters, and they would reach it.
Relief stirred in Lin Yue's heart as several grand and unique buildings rose into view on the horizon. Still, she didn't dare lower her guard. The figure ahead might notice them at any moment.
But when Lin Yue tried to confirm the figure's presence…
It was gone.
No matter how she looked, there was no trace left behind. It had vanished without leaving any sign, as if it had been swallowed by the earth.
A chill ran through Lin Yue. Was there really a technique that allowed someone to disappear so completely?
She glanced at Yu Han, but his expression showed no surprise at all. This time, Lin Yue was genuinely confused.
The entire incident lasted only a few seconds. The eerie cold aura vanished, replaced by a strange warmth that felt oddly comforting.
What exactly had happened?
If such a technique truly existed, Lin Yue would be more than happy to learn it once they reached the sect. Yet her instincts told her that something about this was far from normal.
With lingering curiosity, she once again dragged Yu Han forward, stepping into the sect grounds, eager for whatever spectacle awaited them next.